Manhattan’s Congestion Pricing Plan May Be Delayed

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City's congestion pricing scheduled to start early next year may be delayed.

The MTA and New York City have been waiting 10 months for the federal government to decide whether it will require a full blown environmental impact statement, which could take years, or a condensed shorter one.

Without the decision, congestion pricing may not be allowed to move forward in January 2021.

“From a transportation point of view, from a transit point of view it provides $15 billion of capitol. From an environmental point of view, it will reduce congestion throughout the entire city of New York – throughout the entire region,” he says.

Chairman Foye also believes that congestion pricing, which would create a toll for all vehicles that enter Manhattan’s central business district, is “the least intrusive environmental process.”

MTA spokeswoman Abbey Collins said in a statement: “The NEPA process is determined by the federal government and we have yet to receive direction from (Federal Highway Administration) on how they would like the MTA to proceed even as we have had over a dozen meetings and provided every request for supplemental information. As we have informed FHWA, the MTA is prepared to file either an EIS or EA, each of which we are advanced in preparing. The MTA remains on schedule, with the selection of the contractor and notice to proceed with work, each completed a month ahead of schedule.”

She notes the MTA has met and had conversations with the Federal Highway Administration over a dozen times sine April 2019.